In the third game of the series, the Warriors got clutch plays from Curry, Green, and Poole to defeat the Nuggets and take a commanding lead. (3:05)
Ahead of Thursday night's Game 3, the Denver Nuggets coach vowed to "go down swinging" in the NBA playoffs against the Golden State Warriors while trying to find some fight within his team.
The Nuggets showed the most fight and life they have had all series, but it wasn't enough as the Warriors squeaked out a 118-113 victory in Denver.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said that you have to feel the pressure on the road. It is good for our team to have this experience and come through because we are going to be feeling it on the road.
Draymond Green said that when a team is down 2-0, they come out and give you everything they have. If you are able to take that punch and come out with a win, you go out in Game 4 and you have to take a punch or two.
The game-sealing play for Golden State was one of the plays.
With 34.7 seconds left and the Warriors up five, Green forced Jokic into his fifth turnover of the night, when he tipped the ball from his grip as the reigningMVP tried to back him down.
Green said he felt like he still had good inside positioning when he hit him. If he takes on more dribble, I will stab it.
Green had five fouls. Kerr said that it made him nervous. I will not take him out.
Green went for the steal and risked getting his sixth foul.
He said that it was money time. You can't play the last four minutes of the game if you're worried that you're going to foul out. I am going against him. At some point in the game, I have to be willing to use all of my fouls. I pick up my fifth foul so I can't start playing timid.
Green admitted that Jokic got the best of him in the third game of the series.
Jokic had his best game of the series, finishing with 37 points on 14-of-22 shooting to go with 18 rebound, five assists and three steals. Jokic went 8-of-13 from the floor with Green as the primary defender. Jokic has shot 13-of-36 from the field when guarded by Green compared with 21-of-30 against every other Warriors defender.
Green forced six turnovers when he was defending Jokic. That is tied for the most turnovers by a player against a single defender. Kevin Durant has committed six turnovers when guarded by a Boston player.
Kerr said that he knows how to use his gifts. He is quick and strong and knows how to use his speed and leverage to his advantage. Jokic is hard to handle. He gets to wherever he wants, and once he gets to his spot and turns and shoots, he has incredible touch.
When thinking about the play that likely sealed the win for the Warriors in Game 3, Malone said it wasn't Green's steal, but a play that happened about a minute and 45 seconds earlier.
Stephen Curry pulled up for a 3-point shot in the waning moments of the game. The Warriors grabbed the offensive board as Jeff Green, Will Barton and Monte Morris circled the paint for the rebound.
It was a game where you play good defense and the shot is taken, and you get the guys to watch the ball.
Curry found Jordan Poole in the corner after the ball was thrown back to him by Wiggins. The Warriors were up by three with 1:45 to go after Poole passed up the open shot and finished with a reverse layup.
The play was called a " huge play" by Poole.
If he doesn't get that rebound, we don't get that bucket.
Kerr said that the game plan was always part of the plan when Wiggins checked back into the game. Kerr kept Iguodala in the game because he had made several good plays in a row.
It paid off quickly. Golden State was up for good after Wiggins hit a go-ahead 3. Kerr called it the shot of the game.
The Warriors have not had a trio of players with 25 points in a playoff game since Curry, Thompson and Durant did it in the NBA Finals.
Through the first three games of the playoffs, Poole is the first player in the shot-clock era to average 25 points and 80% effective field goal percentage.
The fun part is seeing Jordan for the first time. He has done a great job of knocking down shots and making plays in his three previous playoff games.
The Warriors have won road games in each of their past 24 playoff series, which is a league record, and every series Curry, Thompson and Green have played together.
Green said that going into an opposing team's building was the best way to shut down the crowd. It doesn't get much better than that. There is no better feeling in sports than going into a hostile environment and coming out with a win.
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